BRAINERD, Minn. - Muskie guide Trent Lehner, who guided this reporter to a two-muskie day on Detroit Lake in Minnesota last fall, has moved his shingle to Mille Lacs, where tales of big fish are becoming common.

Since arriving earlier this month, Lehner has had nine muskies in five trips. They include a 51-inch trophy caught by a friend and a 52-inch muskie he caught under a full moon on Tuesday night.

The 26-year-old guide said fish are being taken both in weeds and on the rocks, where his monster was cruising in less than 6 feet of water. Lehner said the key was to go slow enough to make his spinnerbait tap the rocks

"Then, I ripped it and the fish hit it," said Lehner.

That was only the start of the fun. Lehner was alone.

"It was a son of a gun to net that thing myself," he said.

Many other anglers have been tossing the Double Cowgirl, a two-bladed spinnerbait which has taken lots of big fish since its introduction last year. Lehner reasoned the muskies are too acquainted with it, so he's been going back to the old standards. They include bucktails and other in-line spinners and plastic baits like Bulldogs with a proven track record of catching big fish.

"It's old school stuff," he said.

What's biting

Crappie - Good at Shabbona, Clinton; fair at Shelbyville, Bloomington; picking up at Evergreen; fair at Spring Lake, Banner Marsh;

Saugeye - Slow at Evergreen;

Sauger - Spotty at the Illinois River, which is high and dirty;

Walleye - Fair at Shelbyville; slow at Clinton, Shabbona, Dawson;

Largemouth bass - Good at Shabbona, Sangchris, Decatur; fair at Dawson, Clinton; slow at Lake Bloomington, Evergreen;

Smallmouth bass - Slow at Powerton; fair on rivers;

Striped bass - Fair in spillways at Clinton and Decatur and at Sangchris after dark.

White bass - Very good at Decatur; good at Clinton; fair at Shelbyville; spotty at the Illinois River;

Catfish - Excellent at Shabbona; very good at LaSalle, Illinois River before it rose; Powerton, Sangchris, Decatur; fair at Dawson, Evergreen, Spring Lake, Weldon Springs;

Muskies - Slow at Shelbyville, Evergreen, Shabbona; too hot for safe releases;

Bluegills - Good at LaSalle, Sangchris, Evergreen, Shabonna, Powerton; fair at Spring Lake.

Got a fish story, a hot spot, big fish or lots of them? Something funny happen? Phone Pantagraph outdoor editor Scott Richardson at (309) 820-3227 or e-mail srichardson@pantagraph.com . Read past fishing reports and outdoor columns and take part in online discussions at www.pantagraph.com /blogs.